How to Buy a Car Seat

A Guide to Choosing the Appropriate Baby Seat

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation states that car crashes are the number one cause of death in Canadian kids, and that a properly installed car seat will reduce the risk of injury and death by 71%.

Knowing that, isn't it worth your while to make sure that your precious cargo is as safe as possible right the way through childhood? Child safety changes as kids grow so take a look at the following helpful points in order to ensure that your car seat meets requirements.

Important Tips
Infants
Toddlers
Pre-School to 8 Years
Youth

Important tips when buying a car seat

Thoroughly research car seat options through Internet forums, friends and knowledgeable sales associates. Your local health unit should also be able to offer valuable advice.
Familiarize yourself with the various seats suitable for different stages of a child's development.
All seats must be labeled with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards sticker (CMVSS). Car seats purchased outside of the country may not meet Canada's safety standards, which deems them illegal for use here.
Do not purchase pre-owned car seats unless from a highly trusted seller. Second-hand car seats may already have been in an accident, which deems them unusable. As well, seats more than 10 years old or those that have passed the expiry dates marked on them are unsuitable for your child. Used car seats should have:

Installation instructions and all hardware
CMVSS sticker
No discoloration, stress marks or wear and tear on the harness

Transport Canada does not recommend the use of car seat accessories such as mirrors and toys as they can be harmful in a collision.
Never buckle your child into a seat in his snowsuit as the harness will not be tight enough and he will not be restrained well enough in the event of a collision.
All children under the age of 13 should be buckled into the back seat to avoid airbags in the front seat.
Do not use regular seat belts until your child is 30lbs and only then if the shoulder strap fits across the chest (not the neck) and the lap strap fits across the hips (not the stomach).
It is mandatory to properly secure children of 16 years or younger in a car seat or booster. Failing to do so may result in a fine and demerit points.

Infant Car Seats

The best fit for a newborn baby is an infant-only car seat. These seats are smaller, fit the child more snugly, and are therefore safer than other options. They are also lightweight enough that they can double as a carrier, feeding chair or rocker during infancy.
Infants require a rear-facing seat until:
- Baby is one year old and 20lbs
- Baby can pull himself into a standing position
The baby's head should be supported and may require cushion support around the head and shoulders.
Seat should rest at a 45 degree angle.
Seat should not shift more than 1” in any direction on the base.
Harness straps should fit below the baby's shoulders and you shouldn't be able to fit more than one finger under the straps once they are done up.
The chest strap must sit at chest level, below the armpits.
Rear-facing seats may sport a detachable base, and either a 3-point or 5-point harness.
Convertible car seats are designed for both infants and toddlers as they convert from rear facing to front facing when the child is ready.


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Toddler Car Seat

Toddlers may ride in a forward-facing seat when:
- Toddler is over 20lbs and one year of age
- Toddler meets manufacturer's height and weight requirements
A tether strap is mandatory for the use of a forward-facing car seat. Contact your dealership to have a tether strap anchor installed if your car doesn't have one.
Shoulder straps must be at or above toddler's shoulders, and must be snug enough to fit only one finger under the strap when the harness is done up.
Some forward-facing seats may convert into a booster seat as the child grows out of the car seat.


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Pre-School to 8 Years

It is mandatory by law to use a booster seat when transporting children too big for a car seat, but too small for a regular seat belt.
The child's head must be supported by a headrest.
A full chest and lap combination seatbelt mush be used.
A child can use a seatbelt when:
- He turns 8, or
- He weighs 80lbs, or
- He is 4'9” tall


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Youth

Older and larger children are ready to use the car seat belts once their legs bend over the edge of the seat
while their backs sit against the seat back.
The shoulder strap should not cut the child across the face, and the lap belt should cross the hips, not the stomach.
Educate your children on the importance of wearing a seatbelt by always wearing your own.